dr noel craine

Ian Smith; a few words on the Welsh Years

Many thanks for the opportunity to say a few words about Ian’s time in, and contact with, North West Wales.

I, and many of Ian’s friends from Wales first became aware of Ian when he moved from (I was never quite sure where) to Bangor. In Bangor he took up residence in a lively house, peopled largely by climbers, who, at that time at least, had a distinct lack of interest in horizons that were not defined by mountains or extended climbing trips.

Ian fitted in well with the exploratory theme that ran in the minds of those around him. Whilst others explored the sea cliffs and rock faces of North Wales, Ian explored a growing interest in walking in the remoter and less visited regions of the mountains of Gwynedd. Ian specialised in an interesting mix of ‘route march’ style hill walking, industrial archaeology and an instinct for the hidden. Thus, his exploratory expeditions often in the company of Al Hughes who was generally responsible for the map and compass work, expanded in their range to include underground slate tunnels and the exploration of long forgotten paths. As they frequently found themselves lost this exploring was never dull. Rarely would he return from such expeditions empty handed. Lumps of wood, and in particular complex arrangements of thick and old ivy, would appear in the kitchen of the house, only to disappear for a few days and reappear as beautifully sanded and varnished items to decorate the living room. Some might have called such creations art or sculpture, Ian however would have no time for such indulgent descriptions.

As time progressed many of Ian’s friends started to move out of the ‘big city’ of Bangor to take up more peaceful residences in the mountains. Ian too moved away from the distractions of city life. A brief ‘monastic’ period in a self-assembled wooden shed (exceptionally well appointed in Martin’s Garden) followed. However the Welsh winter weather made such a backwoodsman type lifestyle less than appealing and Ian was to take up more comfortable existence in a cottage with stone walls and a good fire.

Throughout this time Ian’s role amongst the often self-obsessed and somewhat driven world of climbers was always refreshing. He would frequently challenge our often inflated sense of self importance and make one realise that there was a complex world outside our, at times, restricted horizons (although the appearance of Lewis on the cover of the glossily produced Ogwen valley climbing guide was to help our case!). I remember so very clearly a trip to the Alps, Ian squashed in the car with three obsessed climbers, he hiked, we climbed. The twelve hour journey home was never so quick with his wry and entertaining commentary.

The next epoch in Ian’s Welsh sojourn was, what in my mind, I term the Tregarth period. This extended from the early nineties up until his last visit two months ago. Ian was, throughout this time, a frequent visitor or perhaps better described as ‘visiting professor without portfolio’ at Al’s house in Tregarth.

The Reith lectures were as nothing in comparison to the sustained barrage of arguments provided, for over a decade, to a range of audiences on any subject that one might care to mention. Few subjects escaped his critical gaze. Often he would illustrate an argument with a reference or quote from a philosophical or sociological source who none present (and quite possibly he) had never heard of. Common themes included; his favourite; UK drugs policy, a close second international politics and thirdly the failings and pomposities of his friends. When one left a room in which Ian was in full flow, perhaps to retire home to bed, one knew that as the door closed behind you the intensely humorous, stream of consciousness lambasting of ones character would surely be winding up in tempo. You knew this because, if one wasn’t the first to leave one would witness, and encourage, similar critiques of someone else who had just departed the room. The obvious solution was to be the last to leave.

However Ian’s prodigious ability to stay awake put such things beyond my reach.
I must emphasise that rather than being destructive or unkind such caustic humour was always underpinned with friendship (although such emotion Ian would be careful to conceal!) In fact one new it was a privilege to be mocked and provide the raw material for what was undoubtedly an enjoyable rant.

As Ian moved away from Wales and back to Manchester to become involved in the work which up until only recently he was so passionately involved in, so his focus and energy was passed onto others. From a personal perspective, it is, I am sure, exposure to Ian in full flow that changed the direction I was to take in life. I am sure there are many here who’s direction would be different, and much the poorer, if at some moment Ian had not challenged them, opened a door or encouraged an idea to be pursued. Ian was a catalyst; he had the ability to encourage and inspire confidence that an idea was worth pursuing, and then disappear leaving you to get on with it!
Underneath the bluster, there was a great depth of warmth and of humanity. This was expressed not in sentiment but in a deeply held belief in the importance of practical intervention to make society a fairer place. As he said to George Smith on a return trip to Wales shortly after he became involved in his Manchester work - he felt very strongly that ‘something had to be done’.

Ian requested that his ashes be scattered high in the Caerneddau mountain range, an area he loved dearly. He took great pleasure in informing me that the thought of us lot trudging up there in the pouring rain greatly cheered him up!

It has been a great privilege to know Ian ‘smudger’ Smith, a unique individual and great influence on many of us.

Ian; I am sure that I echo the views of your friends from Wales and from elsewhere when I say we will miss you greatly and thank you for your friendship.